Fields leads No. 4 Ohio State past Northwestern 52-3

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (1) escapes pressure from Northwestern defensive end Earnest Brown IV during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Eyeing a playoff spot and a shot at the national championship, No. 4 Ohio State sure is locked in at the moment.

Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) did exactly as expected and blew the game open early, jumping to a 31-3 halftime lead.

“I just feel like it’s business,” defensive end Chase Young said. “That’s the mentality I have, just because I know we can’t have any fluke losses. It’s gonna mess with what we want to do.”

Fields completed 18 of 23 passes for 194 yards. The sophomore transfer from Georgia matched his career high for TDs through the air. He now has 22 passing and 30 overall on the season.

The nation’s second-leading rusher, Dobbins scored from the 5 in the second quarter after breaking off a 67-yard run. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in the first half.

The junior now has 947 yards rushing after finishing with more than 1,000 in each of his first two seasons.

Chris Olave caught two TDs. Blake Haubeil kicked a 55-yard field goal that tied the second-longest in the history of the storied program. The Buckeyes racked up 480 yards while holding the Northwestern to 199 and remained unbeaten heading into their showdown at home with No. 6 Wisconsin next week.

“I think we feel good about the way we came out coming off the bye week — with energy, starting fresh and just refocused on all the things that matter within the program,” coach Ryan Day said. “Now we know we have a huge challenge next week. … We know what we have in store there, so it’s gonna be a really tough week, tough preparation, tough game, but I know the kids are gonna be excited to play it.”

The loss was the fourth in a row for Northwestern (1-5, 0-4). The Wildcats haven’t beaten a top-five opponent since the 1959 team opened with victories over No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 5 Iowa.

Aidan Smith, making his second straight start, was 6 of 20 for 42 yards and an interception. Smith and Hunter Johnson, who started the first four games before sitting out the loss at Nebraska two weeks ago because of a lower-body injury, were listed with the first team on the depth chart this week.

“We’re continually beating ourselves (on offense),” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “We have guys that are pressing, trying to do too much. They care so much. They’re a great group of guys and that’s why my heart breaks for them.”

BREAKING IT OPEN

Through the first six games, Ohio State outscored opponents 296-53 — an average margin of 40.5 points that was the biggest differential among FBS schools. The Buckeyes came in leading the Big Ten in scoring and were tops in the conference in total yards and yards per game by wide margins.

With a defense that ranked second in the nation and conference to Wisconsin going against one of the country’s worst offenses, the Buckeyes made it look easy.

Ohio State went 70 yards on the game’s opening possession, with Fields hitting a wide-open Olave down the middle for a 20-yard touchdown .

Northwestern’s Charlie Kuhbander kicked a 33-yard field goal with just over three minutes left in the first quarter. Fields made it 14-3 early in the second when he hit Dobbins on a slant. And after the Wildcats punted, the Buckeyes needed just two plays to bump the lead to 18, with Dobbins carrying the load.

Ohio State added 10 more points in the closing minutes of the half to break it open.

BIG BOOT

Haubeil was “very confident” he would make his 55-yarder to end the half. It was the longest by a Buckeye since Mike Nugent nailed one of his own against Wisconsin in 2004. Tom Skladany holds the record with a 59-yarder at Illinois in 1975.

“It’s awesome, definitely proves to yourself and our team as a unit you can execute at a high level from the long-distance range,” Haubeil said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Ohio State: Consider this a good tuneup for the big showdown next week for the Buckeyes, who will get an extra day of rest.

Northwestern: Whether it’s Smith or Johnson starting at quarterback, the Wildcats continue to stall on offense. Fitzgerald wouldn’t say who will start at QB next week.